Beijing Jishuitan Hospital: Application of Internal Joint Stabilizer (IJS) in Chronic Elbow Instability

Beijing Jishuitan Hospital: Application of Internal Joint Stabilizer (IJS) in Chronic Elbow Instability

Diagnostic Dilemma & Patient Baseline
🔬 Chronic elbow dislocations are often complicated by intra-articular adhesions, tendon contractures, and fracture malunions. Recently, the team led by Dr. Xieyuan Jiang and Dr. Yejun Zha at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital utilized a self-developed Internal Joint Stabilizer (IJS) to treat two complex chronic cases.
Case 1: A 40-year-old female with residual joint instability and weakness following limb salvage surgery for an open incomplete elbow amputation.

Case 2: A 51-year-old female with a chronic fracture-dislocation for nearly 1 year, right elbow stiff at 40 degrees of extension, accompanied by disuse osteoporosis.

Limitations of Traditional Methods
🏥 Traditional management relies on hinged external fixators to maintain concentric reduction. However, prolonged external fixation carries risks of pin tract complications and limits early rehabilitation.

Surgical Nuances
🛠️ The team utilized the IJS for joint and functional reconstruction.
❄️ For Case 1, ligament reconstruction and IJS implantation were performed.
🔪 For the more complex Case 2, the sequence included arthrolysis, reduction of chronic dislocation, triceps lengthening, ulnar neurolysis, radial head replacement, ligament repair, and IJS implantation.

Follow-up & Imaging
📈 Follow-up: Case 1 regained full ROM and stability at 40 days post-op. Case 2, after 3 weeks of immobilization and 1 week of active exercise (30 days post-op), regained good flexion with no implant irritation.
📸 The attached images document the preoperative imaging, intraoperative fluoroscopy, and postoperative functional recovery for both cases.